Fate of bradykinin on the rat liver when administered by the venous or arterial route

Background and Aim: Bradykinin (BK) infused into the portal vein elicits a hypertensive response via the B2 receptor (B2R) and is efficiently hydrolyzed by the liver. Our purpose was to characterize the mechanism of interaction between BK and the liver. Method: BK, HOE-140 (a B2R antagonist), des-R9-BK (a B1R agonist) and enzyme inhibitors were used in monovascular or bivascular perfusions and in isolated liver cell assays. Results: Des-R9-BK did not elicit a portal hypertensive response (PHR); BK infused into the hepatic artery elicited a calcium-dependent PHR and a calcium-independent arterial hypertensive response (HAHR), with the latter being almost abolished by naproxen. BK has a predominant distribution in the extracellular space and an average hepatic extraction of 8% in the steady state. Hydrolysis products of infused BK (R1-F5 and R1-P7) did not elicit PHR. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is concentrated in the perivenous region and B2R in the periportal region. Microphysiometry showed that BK (and not a B1 agonist) interacts with stellate cells and the endothelial sinusoidal/Kupffer cell fraction. This effect was inhibited by the B2R antagonist. Conclusions: Events can be summarized as: the hypertensive action of BK on sinusoidal cells of the periportal region is followed by its hydrolysis by ACE which is primarily present in the perivenous region; there is no functional B1R in the normal liver; BK induces HAHR via eicosanoid release and PHR by a distinct pathway on the B2R. Our data suggest that BK may participate in the modulation of sinusoidal microvasculature tonus both in the portal and the arterial routes.